Movies

The Politics of Michael Bay’s ‘6 Underground’

Credit: Netflix

Coming from the most self-indulgent director in Hollywood, ‘6 Underground’ is probably Michael Bay’s most self-indulgent movie, which is saying a lot. It is his first film direction after being mostly chained to ‘Transformers’ for the better part of a decade.

‘6 Underground’ released in 2019 as an original Netflix film. It is a flex of Michael Bay’s ability as an action director. This film is probably a synthesis of his directorial style, which has been developing since his theatrical debut in 1995 with ‘Bad Boys’.

Here, Bay is in his comfort zone, that comfort zone being: a complete callous disregard for human life in any of its minute details. It has been noted, in often jovial ways, how Bay has no compassion or care for humans whatsoever. It was speculated that it was this that drove him to direct so many ‘Transformers’ films in his career.

Regardless, that choice made him the fifth most commercially successful director in history. He is beaten out only by Peter Jackson, the Russo Brothers, James Cameron, and Steven Spielberg. Quite an achievement considering.

It is undeniable that Bay belongs among the pantheon of the greats, and there has been an effort to rehabilitate his image. He has become popular to like again, after going from being hated to…